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Team building and team building exercises are extremely important for any team sport. They help bring players closer together, help players understand each other and can improve the overall performance of the team. Unfortunately, a lot of amaetur coaches and teams underestimate the importance of team building exercises, instead focusing purely on skills and fitness based training. While this can work in some cases, it is usually best to approach training with a balanced approach which includes some sort of team building.

Why is team building so important?

There are many reasons why you should include some sort of team building drills in your basketball training program. Most of these are centered around improving the performance of a basketball team as a whole, rather than making any single player better. Some reasons why team building exercises are extremely important include:

A team of weak players working together will usually beat a team of strong players who don’t:

This sort of thinking is hammered into young basketball players from the first training session that they take part in. Junior coaches tend to encourage young players by telling them that it doesn’t matter how skilled they are, but rather how good they are at playing for the team. As players grow up they soon realise for themselves that weak players who work together as a team are often able to beat strong players who play for their own glory – this is the essence of teamwork.

Unfortunately, a lot of people who join a team sport when they are a bit older don’t seem to realise how important it is to work as a team. They focus on improving their own skills and fitness, but won’t necessarily work on fitting into the team. This can be detrimental to both their own and the team’s performance.

Team building exercises can help create fluency on the court:

The best basketball teams seem to move with impossible fluency. Every player seems to know exactly where their teammates are, how they are going to move, and what the limit of their skills is. This is a result of team building exercises.

Once you really know your fellow teammates you will find that it becomes much, much easier to work together. As a coach you will notice little connections begin to develop between players – connections which make them work better together on the court. It is your role to grow these connections until you have a team of players who completely understand each other and the way they play. If you can do this, you will have a lot of success, no matter what league you are in.

Team building will bring weaker players up to the level of the team:

One major problem when it comes to playing basketball in a team is dealing with very weak players or with players who haven’t played before. While it can be tempting to simply put them on the bench for a while until they get up to speed – or at least to give them game time when the result isn’t in the balance – it is important to do whatever you can to develop these players.

Engaging in team building activities will help bring the skill level of weaker players up. It will help to even out the performance of the team as a whole. Everyone will understand better how the other players on the team perform in certain situations, and will be able to adjust accordingly.

Simple team building activities to strengthen your basketball team:

There are many, many different team building activities out there that you can use with any team sport. However, some are more appropriate to basketball than others. They will help you build your team up to be as good as it can be, and should be included in your training program regularly. Some of our favourite basketball team building exercises include:

A pre-season camp:

If you are playing in any sort of serious competition, then you need to do a lot of pre-season training to make sure that your team is prepped for the first game of the season. One of the best things that you can do is plan some sort of pre-season camp.

Make sure that all team members attend, and that they participate in whatever activities you plan for them. Try and include a lot of things which will improve both the skills of your players and their ability to work together. Make them complete tasks which require a lot of teamwork, and offer prizes for the groups which work together the best. Most importantly, encourage all of the players to engage with and get along with all the others. This will make sure that your team is a close-knit and friendly with each other as possible.

Team passing:

This is a relatively simple exercise which is suited to teams of inexperienced players who don’t know each other. It is a great way to get players to engage with the team, to learn their teammates names, and to

Simple put all of the players on the team in a circle with a basketball. The player who starts with the ball passes to another player, while calling the name of the person they pass to. Make sure that they vary who they are passing to, and introduce some sort of penalty for calling the wrong name (for example, push-ups or a suicide sprint).

Blindfold maze:

This is a very good activity to encourage trust between players. First, you need to set up some sort of obstacle course that a blindfolded player would be able to make their way through. Choose one player to be blindfolded, and have the rest stand by. The blindfolded player must make their way through the course by listening to the advice of their teammates.

Final Word:

Team building is absolutely vital when it comes to developing a successful basketball team. Team building activities are usually simple and straightforward to do, and they can have a huge impact on the success of your team. Try a few today and see how much of a difference they make!

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The NBA (National Basketball Association) is arguably the world’s premier basketball league. It is located in the United States of America, and attracts the best players from around the world. Although leagues throughout Europe and Asia are growing, none of these come close to the NBA in terms of sheer size, popularity, and the amount of money involved.

The NBA is also one of the world’s oldest professional basketball leagues. It was founded in 1946, and has grown from strength to strength in the inflatable games for sale decades since. The NBA has a rich and varied history – one that would take hours to explain fully – which will be looked at in brief in the following article.

From humble beginnings:

The NBA was founded on the 6th of June 1946 in New York City. It was originally called the Basketball Association of America (BAA), but this name was changed after just a few years. In 1949, the BAA merged with the existing National Basketball League (NBL) to create the modern day NBA.

Although the structure and size of the NBA has evolved over the years, it’s current existence can be traced back to this merger, which occurred on the 3rd of August 1949 – about 68 years ago.

The NBL:

The National Basketball League, or the NBL, was created in 1937 by three major corporations – General Electric, Firestone, and Goodyear. The league originally had 13 teams, mostly coming from the Great Lakes region of America. Significant development and growth occurred over the next 12 years, before the NBL merged with the BAA to create the modern NBA.

Three current NBA teams can be traced back to the NBL. The Detroit Pistons were originally known as the Fort Wayner Zolloner Pistons. The Los Angeles Lakers have their roots with the Detroit Games, and the Sacramento Kings were originally knon as the Rochester Royals.

The first game in NBA history:

The 1st of November 1946 was an extremely important day when it comes to the history of the NBA. The first ever NBA game was played on this day (Although the league was known as the BAA) between the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers. The Knickerbocker’s Ossie Schectman made the first basket in the league’s history.

The original NBA:

As noted above, the NBA was officially formed in 1949, with roots in the NBL and the BAA. The original 1949 league had just 17 teams. These came from a variety of different cities in the region. This number slowly dwindled over the following years, dropping to just 11 teams in 1950 and eight for the 1953-1954 season – the lowest number in the history of the game.

These eight teams are all present in the modern NBA, and include the Boston Celtics, the Fort Wayne Pistons, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, the Rochester Royals, the Minneapolis Lakers, the New York Knicks, the Syracuse Nationals, and the Philadelphia Warriors. It is important to note that some of these teams have different names in the modern competition.

The introduction of the 24 second shot clock in 1954 did a lot for the games appeal. Prior to this, teams would simply hold onto the ball and play a possession game – something which wasn’t really appreciated by the fans. Under the new rule, teams had just 24 seconds to attempt a shot once they had possession of the ball. This sped the game up and caused a dramatic increase in spectator numbers, allowing the NBA to grow to what it is today.

NBA dynasties:

NBA dynasties haven’t been common, but there have been a few, mainly in the early years of the competition. These include:

The Minneapolis Lakers 5 championships in the early 1950’s.
The Boston Celtic’s 11 championships in 13 years between 1957 and 1969 – including eight straight between 1959 and 1966.
The Los Angeles Lakers with 5 championships in 9 years from 1980 to 1988.
The Chicago Bulls with 6 wins in 1991-1993 and 1996-1998.

The last three championships have been contested by the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the Warriors winning in 2015 and 2017, and the Cavaliers winning in 2017. Could this mark the start of a new dynasty for one of these teams?

Expansion:

In 1961, the Chicago Packers joined the NBA to become the competition’s 9th team, a move which marked the beginning of expansion. By 1968 the competition had surged to 14 teams, with 18 by 1974. Currently (as of 2017) there are 30 teams in the NBA. 29 of these teams are based in the USA, with the Canadian Toronto Raptors the only non US team in the league.

The most successful NBA teams:

The Boston Celtics (17 wins from 21 championship appearances) and the Los Angeles Lakers (formerly the Minneapolis Lakers, 16 wins from 31 championships) have been by far the most successful teams in the history of the NBA. Other notable teams include the Chicago Bulls with 6 wins, the Golden State Warriors with 5 wins, and the San Antonio Spurs with 5 wins.

What does the NBA look like today?

The modern NBA is much, much different to the original competition. The season commences in late September with training camps and pre-season training. These are followed by preseason practice matches.

Following the practice matches, the regular season kicks off in the last week of October. Each team plays 82 games – split equally between home and away fixtures – across a fast past, strenuous regular season. The NBA All-Star game takes place in February, in which the best players from each conference go head to head in an exhibition match. The regular season generally ends around the middle of April.

In late April, the NBA playoffs begin. The top eight teams in each conference compete for the league championship. The playoffs take place in an elimination format, with each team playing their designated up to seven times, aiming to win four games. The team which wins four games advances to the next round of the playoffs, while the loser is eliminated.

The last two teams standing (one from each conference) will face off in the NBA Finals. This series is also best of seven games, and is held in June. The NBA Finals are undoubtedly one of the biggest events on the American – and world – sporting calendar, and should remain so for years to come.

As for the NBA, it has a very rich history, which is why people still enjoy watching basketball games today. Cordial supporters never miss an opportunity to demonstrate their devotion and team support, and wearing fashionable and comfortable polo shirts during games is a great way to do this. A good polo shirt can be quite stylish if you are a fan of a particular team and follow the game religiously or if you are a casual sports lover who likes to watch the games occasionally. Due to the numerous NBA teams available, you will be able to find a team with your preferred players.

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Basketball was invented in America at the end of the 19th century, making it a relatively old sport on a world scale. It quickly spread around the world to become popular in many different countries, and has grown to become one of the world’s most played sports. The history of basketball varies according to the country that you are in, and can be extremely varied and colourful.

Australia is one of the countries which has adopted basketball as a major sport. Although national teams haven’t performed well historically, a recent surge in funding and interest saw the Australian men’s Boomers finish fourth at the most recent Olympic games in Brazil. The history of Australian basketball is both varied and interesting, and needs to be looked at to gain a full understanding of the sport in its modern form.

From Humble Beginnings

Basketball spread to Australia in 1897, just six years after the sport was invented. The first recorded game was between OBI (Our Boys Institute) and YMCA on the 17th of February, 1897. The game took place in South Australia, and paved the way for the future.

Early basketball development in Australia too place in Adelaide and its surrounding suburbs, unlike most sports which developed in Melbourne. However, the sport quickly spread across the country, with courts and basketball hoops popping up in even the smallest country towns. Basketball became a way for AFL players to keep fit over the summer months, and shooting a few hoops became a popular pastime.

While women’s basketball wasn’t developed until later in the 20th century – most women of the time played netball – the sport is now extremely popular among both men and women across Australia. Good things can come from humble beginnings!

The Formation Of National Associations

Unfortunately, the early part of the 20th century didn’t see lot of basketball development in Australia. Compounding factors such as the two World Wars and the Great Depression reduced the impact of the sport (and indeed, of most sports) and prevented it from really growing until the 1930s.

The Victorian Basketball Association was formed in 1931, paving the way for the large scale expansion of basketball across Australia. The NSW basketball association followed soon after, signalling the beginning of basketball expansion.

In 1939, the first national governing body for Australian basketball was created in the form of the Amateur Basketball Union of Australia (ABU). Unfortunately, the ABU was a national union in name only, with representatives from NSW and Victoria. Over the years other states were added to the union, and the name was changed to the Australian Basketball Federation – which it remains to this day.

Early Competitions

Early Australian basketball competitions were scarce until the 1930’s. The development of various state and national governing bodies saw the commencement of various competitions, many of which exist to this day. To begin with, most of these competitions were played at a local level. However, state competitions and, eventually, a national competition were to be developed over the coming years.

National Men’s Championships began in 1946. The first tournament was played in Sydney, and saw NSW defeat Victoria for the title. The first Women’s National Championships took place in 1955, with South Australia coming out comprehensive victors over NSW.

In 1948 Australia joined the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). They were the 52nd country to do so, and this gave the national teams access to many international competitions and tournaments.

The Development of Women’s Basketball

Basketball was originally designed to be a men’s sport. It was thought that women couldn’t cope with both the physical demands and the dress requirements of the sport, and they were therefore discouraged to play. Many women turned to netball, which was aptly named ‘women’s basketball’ for the early part of the 20th century. This naming causes some confusion when it comes to the early history of women playing basketball in Australia.

The history of women’s basketball in Australia is somewhat cloudy. Early records are scarce, and it is likely that women have been playing the game for almost as long as men. The first recorded national Australian women’s basketball team was in 1957. The Australian Opals competed in the second version of the FIBA world championships, which was held in Brazil, and ended up finishing in 10th position with wins over Cuba and Peru.

The first national basketball competition for women was formed in 1981. It was named the Women’s National Basketball League, and has grown from strength to strength since its inception. Six teams from across the country competed in the inaugural season, and this number has since risen to eight.

Modern History

Modern Australian basketball is currently going from strength to strength. It has begun to compete with major sports like AFL and soccer, and in some cases is even taking players away from these sports. It numbers among the top few sports in terms of participation, and looks like it is going to continue growing over the near future.

The Australian Boomers recently recorded their best ever Olympic Games finish, narrowly losing the bronze medal match to finish fourth. Many Australian players are now playing in the NBA and in major European competitions, which bodes well for the future of Australian basketball.

There are also positives on the women’s side of Australian basketball. The WNBL recently signed a new deal which will see it televised for the first time in over two years, and the Opals appear to be developing into a powerful team on the world stage. Although things like AFLW are drawing players away from women’s basketball in Australia, we can still expect participation rates to rise over the coming years.

Basketball in Australia has a long and varied history. It started out small, and never really caught hold until the mid 20th century. However, it has skyrocketed in popularity since then to become one of Australia’s most popular sports for both men and women.

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Although we can’t yet compete with world heavyweights America, Australia’s basketball prowess is growing. Proof of this is in the fact that NBA recruiters are continually looking to Australian players to draft – many of which have gone on to become superstars in recent years.

However, what people don’t realise is that Australia also has a large presence on the world wheelchair basketball scene. They have fielded a team in every Paralympic games since 1968, and have regularly finished high in the standings. In the last 6 Paralympic games, the Australian men’s team has performed exceptionally well, taking home two gold and two silver medals.

What is wheelchair basketball?

Wheelchair basketball is a sport played by people with various physical disabilities which prevent them from playing regular sports. Most of these people have difficulty or are unable to walk, which leads to the sport being played in wheelchairs. It’s rules and regulations are governed worldwide by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF), which ensures fair play and that people with unfair advantages or without disability don’t take part in high level events.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 people play wheelchair basketball across the world. This number is made up of players from the 82 countries with National Organisations for Wheelchair Basketball. People of all skill levels and from all walks of life take part in the sport, with competition levels ranging from recreational and social games to professional leagues. In some countries, including Australia, non-disabled athletes are allowed to use wheelchairs to compete alongside their disabled counterparts in lower level competitions.

Wheelchair basketball has many of the same rules and principles as standard basketball, but there are some key differences. Some of the modified rules include:

A travel is defined as when a player touches their wheels more than twice after receiving or dribbling the ball.
Some fouls are different to standard basketball, including hooking (hooking someone’s chair and causing them to lose control) and lifting (lifting your chair while in possession of the ball).

However, it is important to note that things such as court size and the height of the net remain unchanged.

Wheelchair basketball in Australia:

Wheelchair basketball is notable due to the fact that it is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and the fastest growing for athletes with a disability. Australia boasts a lot of international success in the sport, and is definitely one of the world leaders. The National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL) is Australia’s premier competition for wheelchair basketballers.

The National Wheelchair Basketball League:

The National Wheelchair Basketball League, or the NWBL, is Australia’s top-level men’s wheelchair basketball competition. It is composed of players from across Australia who compete for the title during an 18 game season. There are currently six teams in the league from five states, with games played across the country. The 2016 champions were the Be Active Perth Wheelcats.

The Women‘s National Wheelchair Basketball League is very similar to the NWBL. It is also played Australia wide, with five teams coming together for a 16 game competition played across the country. The most recent WNWBL champions are also from WA, with the Be Active Western Stars winning the 2016 competition.

The Australian Rollers:

The Rollers are currently one of the world’s top male wheelchair basketball teams. The have performed extremely well in international competitions since the mid 1990’s. Their most notable performance was the gold medal in the 1996 Paralympic Games, which were held in the USA.

As well as this, the Rollers also won gold in 2008, backed up with the silver medal in 2004 and 2012. They fell away a little in 2016, finishing 6th. However, they still recorded 5 wins and just 2 losses. They have also performed very well at recent World Championships, finishing 3rd in 2006 and winning the gold medal in 2010 and 2014.

The Australian Gliders:

The Gliders are Australia’s premier women’s wheelchair basketball team. They represent Australia in all international competitions, and have done since the early 1990’s. Since the year 2000 the Gliders have had a mixed run at the Paralympic games. They won the silver medal in 2000, 2004, and 2012, along with the bronze medal in 2008. However, they failed to qualify for the 2016 games after finishing 6th at the 2014 world championships.

The Gliders have traditionally done ok at the world championships. They competed for the first time in 1994, coming away with the bronze medal. They backed this up with two more 3rd place finishes in 1998 and 2002, but slowly dropped away after that to finish 4th in 2006 and 2010 and 6th in 2014.

Playing Wheelchair Basketball:

If you are interested in playing wheelchair basketball, then the best thing to do is to get in touch with your local wheelchair sports association. They will be able to tell you when and where the next competitions or leagues take place. Contact details for the relevant state associations can be found here.

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In a late December game against the Houston Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs managed to claw back from a deficit to pull within one point with less than 25 seconds remaining. Both Kawhi Leonard and then Manu Ginobili found themselves swarmed by Houston defenders as they tried to drive. The chance of an easy basket seemed slim until Ginobili spotted Patty Mills standing quietly – and wide open – beyond the three point line. Mills took the pass and calmly sunk the three with 12.9 seconds left. It was 102-100 in favor of San Antonio, and just like that, the Rockets 10 game winning streak was snapped.

A Quiet but Inexorable Rise

His rise into the ranks of the NBA’s top players has been slow, steady, and largely unnoticed. He was picked at number 55 overall in the 2009 NBA draft, playing on average less than 4 minutes per game during his first season. Fast forward a few years, and Mills has been steadily producing extraordinary numbers which rank him not only among the best in the league, but among the best ever. Through the start of the season, filling in for injured point guard and Spurs legend Tony Parker, Mills was putting up a career high 11.5 points per game. But his efficiency tells an even more remarkable story; at one point Mills was shooting 51.3% from the field, 44.9% from three point range, and a staggering 96.8% from the line. Besides marking him as a front-runner for the Sixth Man award, these numbers put Mills in the elite company of legends like Larry Bird, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry, members of the “50-40-90” club (50% shooting, 40% from three point range, and 90% from the foul line).

It might be said that this season’s statistical explosion is merely the full flowering of a potential which Mills had revealed before. The precocious Australian averaged 14.2 points per game at just 19 years old at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He improved this with an Olympic-leading 21.2 points per game in the London games (2012), outscoring American superstars Kobe Bryant and Lebron James. Mills continued his penchant for delivering on the biggest stage, scoring second highest in the recent Olympics – an effort which saw Australia soar to a 4^th place finish.

An Entertainer, a Leader, and a Worker

Patty Mills has a memorable personality to go with his on-court skills. Recall, for example, his taking the stage at the Spurs’ 2014 championship celebration to introduce teammate and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard with a humorous anecdote that had the crowd roaring. The Spurs can certainly benefit from such an expressive character; recently-retired Spurs legend Tim Duncan was famous for his “boring” style of play (his nickname “The Big Fundamental” was a nod to the fact that his game centered around the mundane basics rather than flashy highlight plays). NBA reporter David Aldridge once pointed to the Spurs success as the best way to refute conspiracy theories that the NBA “rigs” the Finals to ensure that only popular and financially lucrative teams make it to the championship. Aldridge argued that the league couldn’t possibly be angling for better TV ratings by looking to the Spurs to deliver them, since their lack of crowd-pleasing highlights made them “ratings’ death!” But Mills has the personality to change that.

Coaches and teammates alike single out Mills for the personal qualities he brings to the Spurs’ efforts. Coach Greg Popovich praised his point guard in no uncertain terms: “I think he’s really taken pride in becoming more of a cerebral point guard instead of just being known as an energy guy…He has moved the team where it needs to be…” Teammate Tony Parker, for whom Mills filled in as starting point guard while the former recovered from injury, echoed Popovich’s comments:

“He’s been with me a long time now, I love playing with Patty, I love being with him and I love him as a teammate. He’s a great guy to be around, he’s the key to our team as he brings energy and makes big shots.”

Yet Mills’ fun-loving and energetic personality should not be mistaken for weakness. After the Spurs suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Miami Heat in the 2013 NBA Finals (just 5 seconds from victory in Game 6, until Ray Allen hit perhaps the most famous game-tying three pointer in NBA playoff history), Coach Popovich criticized Mills for being soft and out of shape. A player who was truly soft would have pouted; Mills responded as a champion does:

“When Mills showed up for pre-training camp workouts at the Spurs’ practice complex in September of 2013, his teammates barely recognized him. According to Danny Green, Mills spent a lot of time posing like a bodybuilder.”

The author goes on to note that Mills proceeded to have his best season to that point, hitting a series of big shots in games 4 and 5 of that year’s NBA Finals in a rematch against the Heat. The result: the Spurs won their first title in 7 years. Even the caustic Popovich gave high praise to Mills: “He changed his entire body. He came back svelte and cut and understood you have to make better decisions, point-guard-type decisions. He did all those things better and he earned it.”

The Future: Mills’ Place in Australian Athletics

What does the future hold for Patty Mills, and in particular, where does he rank among Australia’s great basketball players? Australia is not without its share of talented NBA stars: Luc Longley won several titles as part of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, and former #1 draft pick Andrew Bogut, once a member of the All-NBA Third team, likewise won a title with the Warriors. But Mills’ exceptional play is already leading some commentators to pose the question of whether he is the greatest Australian basketballer of all-time?

His ongoing 2016-17 season almost undoubtedly makes the case that he is currently the best Australian player in the game, and if he continues this trajectory, it would be hard not to see him as the best to ever come from Australia. Yet whatever Australian basketball may owe to Mills, Patty himself clearly recognizes the greater debt he owes to his home country. As he explained to a group of schoolboys shortly after helping the Spurs to their fifth NBA championship, he is very conscious of this role: “You represent your family, mum and dad, your school and your culture…Now that I get a chance on the big stage, it’s even more important to remember where I came from.” Mills certainly remembers where he comes from, but as he racks up the points, the experience, and the NBA credentials, he continues to make a case for everyone else to remember that he may well be the best basketball player to ever come from Australia.

The legacy of Patty Mills extends beyond his on-court achievements. His impact on the NBA and Australian basketball is undeniable, resonating not just with his skills but also with his infectious personality. Off the court, Mills is also making waves with his fashion sense, often seen sporting a stylish tracksuit that reflects his unique blend of athleticism and urban flair. So, are you interested in sporting your own iconic tracksuit? Explore our collection and find your style today! Don’t miss out on the chance to embody the spirit of a true basketball legend – visit our contact form to get started.

Psychology Today has revealed that ‘when NBA players touch teammates more, they win more’ . High fives, fist bumps, chest bumps, leaping shoulder bumps, head slaps and grabs and team huddles have all been shown to help a player achieve success in performing a key move, such as a rebound, point, block or steal, during a game.

In short, the article tells us that you can use basketball psychology tips to increase performance. There is evidence to demonstrate that touching and body contact during a match can improve your team’s chances of winning the game.

So how does this work?

Basically, touching-behaviours, such as high fives, group huddles, and half or full hugs increase the levels of trust and cooperation within your team. Engaging in these behaviours increases both your own performance as well as the overall performance of your team.

Psychology Today’s article is based on a study called ‘Tactile Communication, Cooperation and Performance: an Ethological Study of the NBA,” published in Emotion journal by Michael W Kraus, Cassy Huang and Dacher Keltner. The study utilises a complicated measure of performance that doesn’t just include winning and losing, but also other factors such as scoring efficiency. The study eliminates factors that contribute towards a win such as early season performance, expert predictions and player salaries, to demonstrate a clear correlation between touching-behaviours and performance.

How can you use this information to improve your performance?

By carrying out the following actions, you can use basketball psychology tips to improve your chances of winning a game:

1. Huddle before games, during and after games
2. Try to touch your teammates – by using fist-pumps, high fives, head grabs – or whatever feels comfortable for you, as often as possible.
3. Talk and gesture to your teammates throughout the game.
4. Pass the basketball to your teammates who are less closely defended.
5. Help your teammates on defence.
6. Help your teammates when they tying to escape defensive pressure.

All of the above tips have been taken directly from the Psychology Today article, which tells us that any behaviour where you need to rely on your teammates for help will help increase trust and cooperation within your team, and ultimately, help your team to win.

Now that there is some direct evidence in the touching-cooperation-performance link, you might as well use this to your advantage. Touching is not only socially acceptable, but beneficial. This research is only the tip of the iceberg of the benefits of using psychology tactics to win a game. Stay tuned for more tips in upcoming articles.

As you hit the court, remember that psychology plays a significant part in your team’s success. According to Psychology Today, touching and body contact can improve your team’s chances of winning the game. Whether it’s a high-five or a fist-bump, physical touch can increase trust and cooperation among teammates. And don’t forget to show your team spirit with a stylish lanyard! Our collection of basketball lanyards comes in various designs and colors. Shop Now and find the perfect lanyard to represent your team. Get Instant Quotes on our selection of high-quality lanyards designed specifically for basketball players, and take your game to the next level with confidence!

All university and college graduates are confronted with one big question upon graduation: where to from here? It is a moment often tainted with a glimmer of uncertainty – will you succeed in the real world? Nowhere does this ring more true than for the aspiring professional basketball player.

So you have finished college or university, either in the US or on home turf in Australia. You were good enough to get into your college or university on a basketball scholarship, and you’ve improved your skills over the past three of four years. But, where to from here?

Michael Oakes, Australian athlete manager and accredited FIBA agent, asserts that it is important to objectively and realistically assess your talent. Only a small number of college graduates make it in the professional arena: only 2-3 rookie spots are offered each year in the NBL and WNBL, and only 60 players are drafted each year for the NBA and WNBA. So what steps can you take to assure that you have the best chance possible of success?

1. If you are eligible for dual citizenship anywhere within the European Union, apply now. There are restrictions on the number of imports that a team can take, plus, your position on the team as an import is always volatile. Playing as a European Citizen has benefits in terms of your job security, pay and competitive edge.
2. The NBL and WNBL are often the launch pad of a career in the NBA/WNBA or in Europe. Landing a position in the NBL/WNBL provides you with the opportunity for intensive training, and puts you in the spotlight for a future position in the USA or Europe. Prior to landing a spot in the NBL/WNBL, consider joining a senior state league and competing in SEABL. Although the training is not as intensive, and these leagues often to do not strength and conditioning training programs, it may provide you with a springboard into an NBL/WNBL position.
3. The NBA and WNBA are renowned as the best leagues in the world, and boast an international array of players. If this is your end-goal, training in an intensive draft prep camp, or summer development program, can increase your chances of being drafted for a team. Similarly, obtaining a position in the NBL/WNBL or a European team will increase your recognition within the US market.

Regardless of where you want to end up as a professional basketball player, whether it be as a player for the NBL/WNBL, NBA/WNBA or Europe, it is important to strategically plan your next move, straight from college or university. Stay focused, keep your goal in mind and grasp onto every opportunity within reach, on an international and national level. If you truly believe you have what it takes, then push to go pro after your basketball college career.

As you lace up your CAPS and hit the court, remember that becoming a professional basketball player requires strategic planning. According to Michael Oakes, Australian athlete manager and accredited FIBA agent, only a small number of college graduates make it into the professional arena.

For more chances of success, consider joining a senior state league and competing in SEABL or training in an intensive draft prep camp. Our collection of basketball CAPS comes in a range of colors and designs for your style. Visit this link today and find the perfect CAPS to represent your team. Request a quote on our selection of high-quality CAPS designed specifically for basketball players, and take your game to the next level with confidence!

Basketball is a game that involves a variety of skills, conflicting personalities and constant exposure to scrutiny of the millions of fans following the on court and off court action of their favorite NBA teams and players. These conditions can pretty much cause anyone to lose their marbles, let alone some of the world’s most recognised basketball players. From constantly griping about calls or just point-blank jackass behaviour, here are some of the most memorable tantrums and outbursts in basketball history.

1. Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer

Bill Laimbeer has a pretty bad rep: he has punched people, clotheslined people and body-slammed people. The video compilation above attests to his very physical nature and ‘bad boy’ label. It a pity that Laimbeer’s borderline assaults often overshadow the fact that he had 13,790 points and 10,400 rebounds in his career.

2. Dennis Rodman headbutts in rage

Dennis Rodman was ejected during a game in March of 1996 and didn’t exactly take kindly to it. Instead of leaving the court compliantly, Rodman threw a fit and stomped around for a few seconds before headbutting the referee – and he wasn’t done. When escorted off the court by Luc Longley, the angry basketballer took off his jersey on the sidelines, threw it back onto the court, and in one last move before he was suspended for six games without pay, Rodman shoved the water cooler over and stormed off.

3. Rasheed Wallace and his hatred for towels

Rasheed Wallace is admired as a great defensive player, but he is also a man who threw more temper tantrums than anyone else in NBA history. Though, it appears that he had a particular attraction towards throwing towels. The video above and this scene serve as proof.

4. The near fatal punch of Kermit Washington

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI8nVJLHDMo

One of the most notorious cheap shots in NBA history is when Kermit Washington attempted a near-fatal punch at Rudy Tomjanovich. The incident was so scandalous that author John Feinstein penned a novel around it entitled “The Punch: One Night, Two Lives, and the Fight that Changed Basketball Forever.”

5. ‘Malice at the palace’

This is arguably the ugliest incident in sports history as both players AND fans traded punches. Infamously known as ‘The Malice At The Palace,’ the melee happened on November 19th, 2004, at the end of a blowout between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. It all started with Vernon Maxwell charging into the stands to punch a cup-hurling fan, David Stern, who was taunting him. In all, nine players from both teams were suspended for a total of 146 games.

Australian basketball players are increasingly finding their way to international shores, especially in the NBA. Some say it is the Australian way of hard work and persistence that make US coaches and scouts consider them for selection, others mention that it’s “the result of a steady growth model three decades in the making“. Regardless of the reasons why, below is a list of a few high performance basketballers hailing from the land down under.

1. Andrew Bogut

Two-time Olympian Andrew Bogut plays as a centre for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. The 31-year-old has received praises for playing a crucial role in the team, which is best described in a Guardian article – “Bogut is the crux of Golden State’s defense and creates important space for team-mates in attack – his screens are a core element of their offensive play.” To top it all off, Bogut was selected as the first overall pick in the NBA for Milwaukee in 2005.

2. Matthew Dellavedova

This professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA was ranked one of the top junior players in Australia. Rated as the #73 shooting guard recruit for the 2008–09 recruiting season, Matthew Dellavedova contributed for the Gaels and started each of the first 15 games of the season for the team. In the following season, the Maryborough-raised basketballer averaged 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

3. Patrick Mills Patrick

Mills represented Australia at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, where he averaged a team-best 14.2 points. He was first selected in the NBA in 2009, and won his first NBA championship with San Antonia Spurs in 2014. The Canberra-raised point guard is undoubtedly skilled, so much so that five-time title-winning coach Gregg Popovich has mentioned “some nights things aren’t going that well and the team doesn’t have it, but you can count on Patty Mills to come in and give everything.”

4. Aron Baynes

Only getting a true feel of basketball in his late teens, Aron Baynes was quick to attract the attention of basketball coaches across Queensland. He was able to represent the state by 2002, and was offered a scholarship after the state championships with the Australian Institute of Sport. He was nominated for the NBA draft in 2009, after a short stint playing for the LA Lakers summer league team and before taking his game to Europe. Today, Baynes is the only Euroleague baller to post remarkable double-double averages of 15 points and 10 rebounds per contest.

5. Cameron Bairstow

By the time Cameron Bairstow was a senior in the University of New Mexico, he had completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the school’s history by doubling his previous season’s scoring average, putting up 20.4 points per game. He has remained consistent since then, with the Bulls’ general manager Gar Forman commending Bairstow’s style of play and highlighting the basketballer’s combination of size, energy as well as physicality as the reason they were keen on him.

As Australian basketball players like Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Patrick Mills, and many more take the court, they’re prepared to sweat it out in their high-performance basketball socks. Our collection of socks is designed to keep you dry and comfortable during those intense matches. Order here to get the perfect pair that match your style and keep your feet happy. Get free quotes on our selection of high-quality basketball socks designed specifically for basketball players, and take your game to the next level with confidence!